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Jan 31, 2011

My brain surprises me sometimes. All it takes is a certain word, smell or taste to suddenly bring me back in time. The latest oh ya moment occurred while writing my last blog post. Writing about Victoria Secret model Alessandra Ambrossio brought me back to the lingerie fashion show when I first heard Akon's Angel. The song, which I didn't love during the live performance, is now one of my favorites.

More random than Akon, the last post also made me remember an old favorite movie of mine. Back in my boyband days, I loved Justin Timberlake and therefore diligently watched everything he was in. The television movie Model Behavior is an example of something I haven't heard of or watched in years, but a simple witty tweet to promote the post brought me back to my Justin obsession. Anyone else see the movie?

Using the sidewalk as their runway, Alessandra Ambrosio taught daughter Anja a thing or two about strutting. The Victoria's Secret model treated her two-year-old to frozen yogurt while vacationing in Brazil in Sunday. Judging from her perfect posture and paparazzi-ready sunglasses, Anja is poised to enter the family business.

Jan 30, 2011

Despite asking for a wardrobe malfunction, Lea Michele's dazzling gold Oscar de la Renta gown was a definite winner. The best dressed actress sparkled in both the gown and her Tiffany accessories on the Screen Actors Guild red carpet. Lea and the rest of the Glee cast didn't take home any awards tonight, but the beauty wins an A List fashion award tonight. STUNNING!

Everyone's favorite married couple made a cute Twitter appearance during the Screen Actors Guild awards. After winning the Actor for Outstanding Performance by an Ensamble in a Comedy Series, Sophia Vergara tweeted a picture of herself with costar Ed O'Neill saying, "We wooon!!!!!!" Aren't they adorable?

The Screen Actors Guild caught the social media bug this year and enlisted Angie Harmon as their community manager. The actress and mom of three's official role was supposed to use Twitter to communicate with fans and act as the social media host. Much to our dismay, Angie didn't reveal anything from the show.

The build-up to the awards show was strong. Facebook updates and tweets were being broadcast, but on the big night, Angie was virtually silent. With a backstage pass to all the big names at the awards show, it's disappointing that Angie only managed to post around 10 updates. Unfortunately, most of these updates were about arriving at the show, her dress, or thanking fans.

As the community manager, it was Angie's job to give fans a sneak peek into the action. We should have been privy to insider photos, backstage banter and details not available on our television screens. While I applaud that SAG team for appointing a social media host, I hope that next year's CM manages to fulfill her role.

Side Note: I love Angie's Monique Lhuillier gown. The pale pink works on her skin tone, but the dress would look equally as great in white (wedding!) or nude.

The breakout stars of Modern Family got spunky on the Screen Actors Guild Awards red carpet. Most interesting about Sarah Hyland, Nolan Gould, Ariel Winter and Rico Rodriguez's personal style? It's very similar to their onscreen characters. Notice Ariel's age-appropriate white gown or Sarah's revealing red strapless Valentino? Or how about Nolan's sweet bow-tie or Rico's mature tie? I guess their Modern Family style is rubbing off on them

Natalie Portman looked angelic in this bump-hugging Azarro gown. The white was reminiscent of her portrayal of the white swan in the film that spawned a million accolades, The Black Swan. Natalie won the Best Actress Actor at the Screen Actors Guild awards tonight, just like she did earlier this month at the Golden Globes. Another reason that the angelic white is so necessary: it makes us forget she got pregnant out of wedlock. Who knew one color could make the unwed pregnant actress look so innocent?

The man of the year came face-to-face with his impersonators on last night's Saturday Night Live. Facebook founder and accidental billionaire Mark Zuckerberg tested his acting chops alongside The Social Network's Jesse Eisenberg and SNL's Andy Samberg. The Jewish boys made quite the trio. While Eisenberg made a superb Zuckerberg in The Social Network, it turns out that Samberg is his doppleganger. Oh, and that poking comment? Zuckerberg's going to give Natalie Portman a run for her money in the awkward category.

Jan 29, 2011

Charlie Sheen's life has been colorful, to say the least. The troubled actor has been celebrated for his talent and criticized for his addictions. Audiences have always loved him and his stage presence has producers clamoring to cast him in their latest ventures. Girls and drugs have always been his vice.

Charlie has engaged in numerous activities that threaten his success. Girls have always flocked to him, but his destructive behavior has ruined all of his relationships. Drugs and prostitutes have always enthralled Charlie, causing his relationships to falter and leaving his children virtually fatherless. Most recently, Charlie's marriages to Denise Richards and Brooke Mueller gained notoriety in the tabloids, with the reporters documenting his every bender.

The latest drama unfolded Thursday, when Charlie was hospitalized for a hernia and supposed overdose. The trouble began after a 36-hour party bender that included cocaine and prostitutes. (Fun Fact: It was Adrienne Maloof and her husband Dr. Paul Nassif of Real Housewives of Beverly Hills fame who ended up calling 911 on Charlie.)

Within hours of being hospitalized, Charlie's father Martin Sheen and ex-wife Denise Richards arrived at his side to help the troubled star. Most notably, they finally convinced him to enter rehab and get the help he needs. While Martin's support is to be expected, I was most surprised at Denise's involvement. The actress has been vocal about her troubled relationship with Charlie, and despite an ill-fated New York vacation late last year, Denise did not seem to have an ongoing relationship with Charlie. According to a friend, "Denise is heartbroken and fears the day when she gets the call saying Charlie is no longer alive."

I feel for Denise. She has been raising her and Charlie's two daughters, Sam, 6, and Lola, 5, while her ex-husband continues to get himself into trouble. Based on the paparazzi pictures and her reality show, it seems obvious that Denise is a loving and attentive mother. And with only her father to rely on for help, it's admirable that she has not gone on record to bash Charlie for his bad parenting skills. While I used to be a bit on the fence about my Denise feelings, her latest show of support for her ex-husband puts her firmly in my "like" category.

The entire Charlie situation is tragic. Why is it that the talented stars always have the biggest issues to overcome? Are they trying to live up to everyone's expectations of them, or are they just looking for an out? Despite everything Charlie has put his loved ones through, I hope he can finally get the help he needs. A leave of absence from the hustle and bustle of Hollywood may be just what the doctor orders.

Jan 27, 2011

You can't blame the Academy Awards for wanting to inject some youthful spirit into the telecast. After 83 years, the show desperately needs some new energy. With viewership declining in previous years, electing James Franco and Anne Hathaway as the Oscar hosts will attract youth to tune in. Just look at how much fun these two are having -

Jan 26, 2011

She may look innocent, but newcomer Mackenzie Foy has a few tricks up her sleeve. The 10-year-old has been cast as Renesmee, the half-human, half-vampire, offspring of Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson in The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn. Sure to be the movie event of the year, little Mackenzie will make a splash in Hollywood and give the celebrity babies a run for their money.

Most likely to lose tabloid space? Suri Cruise. The darling daughter of Tom and Katie looks like a younger version of Mackenzie. Don't you see it? Suri better get herself a role in a hit movie soon - her position as Hollywood's top youngster is in jeopardy!

Jan 25, 2011

She already has a fashion line named after her, so it's only right that Elizabeth Olsen finally makes a name for herself. The younger sister of mega-mogul twins Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen and namesake of their Elizabeth and James brand made a splash at Sundance. Starring in the psychological thriller Martha Marcy May Marlene, Elizabeth is winning accolades for her gripping performance.

The 21-year-old NYU psychology major is quickly becoming Hollywood's new It girl. Dubbed "the next leading lady" by Chase Crawford in V Magazine, Elizabeth is definitely the one to watch. Will Elizabeth prove to be the Olsen with (staying) acting power?

The Hollywood social event of the year focuses on a tall gold statue. The Oscars are the creme de la creme of awards season. Being nominated by the academy is something every actor aspires for, but snubs are inevitable. This year, four actors seem to be missing from the nominations. Do you agree with their lack of recognition?

Ryan Gosling: He may have gotten his start on the Mickey Mouse Club and Breaker High, but boy has Ryan blossomed. The Canadian actor received accolades for his raw performance in Blue Valentine, but alas, only his costar Michelle Williams was awarded a nomination.

Mila Kunis: The actress thankfully left the '70s for the big screen. Mila's standout role in this year's Black Swan was definite supporting actress material, but it was costar Natalie Portman who received the praise and recognition from the academy.

Andrew Garfield: With two breakout movies this year, it's a shame that relative newcomer Andrew was not recognized by the academy. The Social Network and Never Let Me Go provided Andrew with in-depth characters to portray. His ability to immerse himself in character is remarkable, and hopefully the academy will celebrate his talent in the near future. Note: his costar Jesse Eisenberg was nominated.

Julianne Moore: The redhead stunner wowed audiences in The Kids are Alright. While moviegoers raved about her performance, the academy chose costar Annette Benning to award the nomination to. Major snub, or one actress too many?

Jan 23, 2011

It's unlikely collaborations like this that truly catch my attention. Drake and Coldplay have teamed up for October's Very Cold, a unique new sound for the Canadian rapper's debut album. So far, Trouble's Over is my favorite of the just-released tracks. Download it here and let me know which song is your favorite!

She may have won top honors at the Golden Globes, but Natalie Portman will never live down that seriously awkward laugh. Maybe next time you should save the sex jokes for a more intimate, non-televised occasion. Even though they're edited, the star reactions are absolutely priceless.

Introducing the Mary-Kate Olsen diet: Mary Katkins. The pint size mega mogul advises everyone dying to drop a few pounds to look at a bagel, smell a celery and touch a potato. And for all you kosher kids, don't worry - Mary-Kate has some advice for you too.

Jan 20, 2011

Almost one year after Jesse James and Sandra Bullock's marriage dissolved, the tattooed bad boy is trying his luck again. The thrill of mistresses can't stop Jesse, as today he announced that he is engaged to fellow tattoo freak Kat Von D. The controversial twosome have made no secret of their relationship, posing together for the paparazzi and tweeting sweet nothings to each other. Best of luck to the both of them - I have a feeling they'll need it...

Jan 19, 2011

We always hear of men trading in their wives for younger models, and it seems Ryan Phillippe has joined in on the trend. After knocking up, marrying and divorcing Reese Witherspoon, Ryan is now dating her younger look-a-like, Amanda Seyfried. I had to do a complete double take when I saw this picture. Isn't their resemblance uncanny?

...the most delicious baby boy! Zachary, the son of Elton John and David Furnish, steals the cover of the new Us Weekly. The "peaceful" baby, who was born via surrogate, is said to be Elton's biological child. "Elton really wanted the child to have his genes," a friend said. "He has a gold-given talent and wanted to pass that on to a child." Isn't he adorable?

The best bar mitzvah skits are made by those who actually know what the Jewish tradition entails. The momentous occasion is supposed to represent a boy (or girl) entering manhood (or womanhood), but in recent years the coming of age has been overshadowed by the parties. It's a shame we're only twelve or thirteen when our parents throw us these parties - we can't truly appreciate them until we're much older. From the food, the music, the decor, these parties are spectacular.

Television shows have portrayed bar mitzvah parties as being quite over the top. I'm not denying that they're amazing, but the majority of us do not have celebrity appearances (I wish!). What makes the Saturday Night Live skit so amazing is that many of the Jewish cast members actually understand what they're spoofing. Gwyneth, Andy, even Lorne Michaels - these people get it. Mazel tov!

Jan 17, 2011

They may not have won the Golden Globe, but the Modern Family men still know how to have a good time. After losing the best comedy award to Glee, Eric Stonestreet made fun of his castmates, sharing these pictures on Twitter. Ed O'Neill, Jesse Tyler Ferguson and Ty Burrell all mugged for the camera, giving their best "in character" face for the pictures Stonestreet captioned with "Loser!"

After wearing one of the evening's worst dresses, Golden Globe winner Natalie Portman finally regained her sense of style. With the rose dress but a distant (and much documented) memory, Natalie changed into a pregnancy flattering Azzaro dress for the FOX celebration. Sandwiched between her parents, Avner and Shelley Hershlag, Natalie looked absolutely radiant. Don't you love this look? Simple, elegant and so classic Natalie Portman.

The fashion wasn't spectacular, but the humor was at an all time high. With Ricky Gervais throwing barbs at all the celebrities, it was impossible not to love the energetic host. Here are some of his best one-liners -

On Charlie Sheen: "It's going to be a night of partying and heavy drinking. Or, as Charlie Sheen calls it, breakfast."

On certain Scientologists: "Also nominated, I Love You Phillip Morris. Jim Carrey and Ewan McGregor, two heterosexual actors pretending to be gay. So the complete opposite of some famous Scientologists, then. My lawyers helped with that joke."

On The Social Network: "The creator of Facebook, Mark Zuckerberg, is reportedly worth $7 billion. Heather Mills calls him the one that got away."

On Sex and the City: "There were a lot of big films that didn't get nominated this year - nothing for Sex and the City 2. I was sure the Golden Globe for special effects would go to the team that airbrushed the poster."

On 3D: "It was a big year for 3D movies. Toy Story, Despicable Me, Tron. It seems like everything this year was three-dimensional. Except the characters in The Tourist.

Spotted: Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner sharing a tender moment at the Critics' Choice Movie Awards. The parents of Violet and Seraphina have been high on my favorite Hollywood couples list ever since the Toronto International Film Festival. Good looks, cute kids and obvious adoration? Win!

Jan 16, 2011

With their superhuman good looks, it's hard to make Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt look anything but perfect. The parents of six took a night off from their parenting duties to wow the dazzlers at the Golden Globe awards. Angelina's sparking green Versace dress made her eyes pop, while Brad's stylish suit proved that the Hollywood hunk can do no wrong. True love, best dressed.

I know she's a free spirit, but why on earth did Michelle Williams choose this dress for the Golden Globes? The Blue Valentine actress knows how to rock designer couture, but this Valentino dress is all sorts of wrong. Let's hope Michelle hires a young, non-hippie stylist for the rest of the awards shows.

Spotted: Sandra Bullock hiding behind her shaggy bangs at the 2011 Golden Globes. The actress, who received an overwhelming amount of publicity both personally and professionally in the last year, was not looking her best at the first major awards show of the year. While she put a lot of effort into her post-Jesse James look last year, she clearly went for a more demure look tonight. Her blunt bangs and pink Jenny Packham dress just don't work for her. Sandra's such a natural beauty - why ruin it with the extra fabric and face-covering hair?

Easily the best dressed of the night, Olivia Wilde looked every bit the princess that she is in her chocolate brown Marchesa gown. The stunning creation fit her like a glove and the color worked beautifully on her flawless skin.

Disclaimer: While I absolutely die for the dress, I wish she had put a little more effort into her hair. The loose strands take away from the intricate detailing on the bust of the dress. A low pony tail or bun would have looked more elegant.

After this week's AFI Awards, I had such high hopes for Natalie Portman. The best actress shoe-in looked like she picked her dress up at her local discount store. The length, the rose, the shoes - it was all wrong. Natalie has all eyes on her tonight, but for the total wrong reasons.

Like a true addict, I can still remember my first sip. It was in high school, grade 12 to be exact, and my world history teacher gave me $20 to make a Starbucks run. I hopped into my 13-year-old Volvo station wagon (don't judge) and wound up at Starbucks. Hesitant to get a black coffee on my first visit, I added a shot of caramel into my tall bold. Since that fateful day, Starbucks has become a staple in my life. Days just don't seem complete without my iced coffees, americano mistos or gingerbread lattes. The only problem with my addiction was money.

Starbucks is one of the most expensive coffee shops in an already overpriced city. Spending $4 on a latte can seem ridiculous, but really, what other option did I have? I was not prepared to brew my own pot - it seemed like too much work. Honestly, how would I even begin to figure out when to change the filter, how much water to use, how many beans to roast...? As an undomestic goddess, I was not ready to give up my daily splurges for a messy kitchen.

Enter Tassimo. A successful social media campaign put a state-of-the-art Tassimo home brewer in my new condo. Cleverly dubbed "the smartest single cup home brewing system," this machine was clearly made for me. Using the Tassimo could not be easier - pour some water into machine, insert T-Disc, press a button and a steaming cup of coffee is ready within seconds. The machine has a built in barcode brewer to do all the measurements. Seriously, it's that easy.

I don't just love Tassimo's easy-to-brew system, I am obsessed with the T-Disc offerings. With over ten brands to choose from, your counter will quickly morph into your own personal coffee shop. Missing your daily Starbucks? Not to worry - Tassimo offers Starbucks T-Discs! I can now have my morning Starbucks for a fraction of the price! If this isn't the best deal ever, I'm not sure what is.

Jan 15, 2011

With her pregnancy glow on full display, Natalie Portman walked the red carpet at the AFI Awards in Los Angeles. The star, whose film Black Swan was honored as a movie of the year, will likely be the belle of the ball at tomorrow night's Golden Globes. With her pregnancy bump barely showing, Natalie is still petite enough to pull of a stunning gown.

Jan 13, 2011

Despite the fact that they lose almost every game, my boyfriend is still a devout Maple Leafs fan. He's not alone in this sick obsession - Torontonians invest an absurd amount of time and money into one of the NHL's worst teams. Don't get me wrong, I have tons of hometown pride, but even I can't stand to watch a losing team. Until the Leafs can put a smile on my face, I'll have to settle for this amazing video. Enjoy!

Spotted in my home away from home - Katy Perry and Russel Brand. The newlyweds hit up the blackjack tables (my specialty!) at Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino in Las Vegas, and from the looks of it, they were both making a pretty penny. I'll be back in Sin City next month - hopefully I see some celebrities at my tables!

Jan 12, 2011

Young Hollywood's most fashionable family hit the streets of Hollywood Tuesday looking nothing short of adorable. From Nicole and Sparrow's matching leather jackets to birthday girl Harlow's tutu, the Richie-Maddens can do no wrong. Don't you just love them?

Jan 11, 2011

With Glee still on hiatus, Heather Morris finally found the time to shine. While her character, ditzy Britney, has been given more screen time this season, fans have still been asking for more of Britney S. Pearce. Well, our wish has been granted and Heather is the title character in a new Funny or Die video. Glee cast members Matthew Morrison, Cory Monteith and Naya Rivera make appearances in the video, but the most surprising star is Sofia Vergara.

The Modern Family stunner got caught up in some Emmy controversy between her costar Ed O'Neil and Glee star Jane Lynch. Proving that no love was lost, Sofia paid homage to the notorious Cheerios coach by donning Sue Sylvester's trademark red Adidas tracksuit. Cute, right?

The worst trend of 2011 has already emerged: panther bathing suits. Seriously, what is the appeal of this bathing suit? Rihanna first sported the look while vacationing in Barbados, and Diane Kruger was recently spotted wearing the growling suit while vacationing with boyfriend Joshua Jackson in Cabo. I don't think that the design is particularly classy or flattering. Would you rock it?

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